Celebrating AbdulRasheed Na’Allah @ 59

Raheem Akingbolu

On Tuesday, 21 December, 2021, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah clocked 59. The day turned out to be an opportunity for friends, contemporaries and students of this intelligent purpose-driven scholar to be celebrated.

Today, I have decided to add my voice in celebrating this man, who is fast becoming a symbol of integrity, progressive leadership and administration in Nigeria.

 Just as I was ruminating over the need for me to use this avenue to call on the attention of Nigerians to a man, who is set to achieve greatly when speaking of Nigerian Universities… I stumbled on the tribute written in honour of Na’Allah by an international acclaimed Historian, Prof. Toyin Falola.

Falola, in a Tribute titled; ‘Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah: The poet, playwright, and philosopher,’ said: “a visionary like him (Na’Allah) is desired at the peak of decision-making and in every meaningful leadership position. Given that he is a poet primarily known for bringing imaginations close to reality, I should be forgiven if I believe that Na’Allah could sum the dreams and imaginations of Nigerians into reality, this time not with pen and paper but with developmental and progressive policies and executions”. With this submission from no other person but a scholar of Prof. Falola’s standing, one can sum up the personality of the birthday boy as ‘t ring a bell beyond Kwara and amongst his old classmates until he became a pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Molete.

Within few years, Prof. Na’allah, had not only built the new KWASU to an enviable level, he had also turned it to the preferred choices of millions of Nigerian students who wanted a University education. At the beginning, many had dismissed this literary icon on the basis that he was coming from a foreign University, where everything worked, to start a new University in an unfamiliar terrain.

Honestly, I didn’t know how he did it but in the history of Nigeria, KWASU remains the first State University that has ever gained traction and became competitive with older Universities within its first five years of establishment.

For instance, Na’Allah may not be the first person to key into the entrepreneurial study policy of the Federal Government, he did wonder with it in KWASU as many of his students became instant entrepreneurs even before they left the four walls of the University.

I didn’t know Prof. Na’Allah while in KWASU or University of Ilorin, where I later learnt he started his lecturing job before moving to Canada. Our first meeting was in Ikoyi, Lagos two years ago at an event organised by the Bridge Club of Lagos.

My friend, another illustrious son of Ilorin, Tajudeen Ahmed, head of Business Development at BUA Group, had invited me to be part of an event put together by his association- The Bridge Club of Lagos.

As the guest speaker at the event, Na’Allah was able to warm himself into the hearts of all quickly as he painstakingly x-rayed the prospects and challenges facing the Nation’s Education sector. He spoke with passion, he made data available and most of all he proffered solution! The evening was so engaging that members of the club, who are majorly top players in Nigeria’s corporate world became emotional as they spoke. Firsrly, it was to commend Na’Allah and secondly, to urge the Federal Government to give him more opportunity, where he would be able to translate his vision for Nigeria’s Education through actionable policies.

Of course as a reporter, I didn’t allow the opportunity to interview the University Don elude me! I walked up to him and sought for a private audience. He accepted the offer and humbly followed me out of the hall to a quiet place where we had a heart to heart interview that lasted 15 minutes. The interview was on how best to rescue the Education sector.

After the event and my interview with him, I was curious to find out if Na’Allah has demonstrated part of what he itemized at either KWASU or UNIABUJA where he is currently a Vice Chancellor.

My findings were positive, Prof. Na’Allah, made the best use of his two term stay in KWASU and currently striving hard to rebuild UNIABUJA after over two decades of near abandonment. He has moved the university positively to a sound infrastructural development and an effective administration.

Na’Allah, appears to be righting the wrong in University of Abuja.  No wonder, he’s being adjudged one of the best University administrators in Nigeria.

At just 59, I have no doubt that Na’Allah, still has a lot to offer in Nigeria’s public space!